annieb123's review
5.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Vanishing Type is the fifth book in the Secret, Book, & Scone Society series by Ellery Adams. Released 26th April 2022 by Kensington, it's 304 pages and available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.
This is a comfortable cozy mystery series set in a fictitious small town in North Carolina. The town is renowned for its therapeutic healing, both physical and mental. There is a slightly magical 'vibe' to the healing, with sort-of magical baked & knitted goods and book therapy as an integral part of the deal. This installment contains a lot of exploration on the meaning of family and found family. The author treats the subject sensitively and sensibly.
It's sweet and charmingly written and the secret society spends a fair bit of time making anonymous gifts to distribute to sad/lonely/needy people they know. Luckily for local law enforcement, they're also amateur sleuths and like to solve crimes. There is mild language (a 'sh*t' and a couple of 'd*mn's). All of the above are in context in the story and not gratuitous.
The story as presented is self contained and any necessary back story and characterizations are included in the narrative, so it works well as a standalone novel. It's not necessary to have read the first books to keep up with the characters or plot.
It's a good, warm, comfortable, small town cozy series with a mostly female cast and a good denouement and resolution.
Four and a half stars, recommended to fans of light cozy mysteries. It would make a good book-club read and in fact, there is an included reader's question guide to help along a discussion group. The author has also included a bibliography list of books included in the text for fans looking for specific recommendations for further reading and discussion.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Vanishing Type is the fifth book in the Secret, Book, & Scone Society series by Ellery Adams. Released 26th April 2022 by Kensington, it's 304 pages and available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.
This is a comfortable cozy mystery series set in a fictitious small town in North Carolina. The town is renowned for its therapeutic healing, both physical and mental. There is a slightly magical 'vibe' to the healing, with sort-of magical baked & knitted goods and book therapy as an integral part of the deal. This installment contains a lot of exploration on the meaning of family and found family. The author treats the subject sensitively and sensibly.
It's sweet and charmingly written and the secret society spends a fair bit of time making anonymous gifts to distribute to sad/lonely/needy people they know. Luckily for local law enforcement, they're also amateur sleuths and like to solve crimes. There is mild language (a 'sh*t' and a couple of 'd*mn's). All of the above are in context in the story and not gratuitous.
The story as presented is self contained and any necessary back story and characterizations are included in the narrative, so it works well as a standalone novel. It's not necessary to have read the first books to keep up with the characters or plot.
It's a good, warm, comfortable, small town cozy series with a mostly female cast and a good denouement and resolution.
Four and a half stars, recommended to fans of light cozy mysteries. It would make a good book-club read and in fact, there is an included reader's question guide to help along a discussion group. The author has also included a bibliography list of books included in the text for fans looking for specific recommendations for further reading and discussion.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
tehlanna's review
4.0
My favourite part of this series is the friendships. The bond among the characters is so poignant- and just the sort of friendships I cherish in my own life. Ellery Adams perfectly captures a mixture of mystery and fun. I like that her characters experience hardship and trial, but also light-hearted fun and connection with others also enduring life’s challenges. I feel like I can relate to every single person in her novels.
A common theme in this series is second chances; everyone makes bad decisions, or decisions that impact another person in a negative way, but with forgiveness and grace and effort we can start again. I liked the way this played out in The Vanishing Type.
A common theme in this series is second chances; everyone makes bad decisions, or decisions that impact another person in a negative way, but with forgiveness and grace and effort we can start again. I liked the way this played out in The Vanishing Type.
embe94's review
5.0
I love books about books! But also, this is the coziest mystery with just the right balance between friendship and joy and suspense and fear! I thought this murder mystery did make more sense than the last- it was a little more reasonable and less plot twists that required a ton of background information to understand. Looking forward to the next in the series!
manal_osmally's review
4.0
"The man who can keep a secret may be wise, but he is not half as wise as the man with no secrets to keep." –Edgar Watson Howe, Country Town Sayings
I am a bit late this party but I am here nonetheless...
Pros
- I love the them of disclosing a secret per book, as someone who is chronically scared of secret, I find that very appealing, the power of all the women is always something to look at and admire, and in a world where women think they are in a competition, it's lovely to read about women who would gang up to protect one another against the world.
- People don't change, they own up to their mistakes and solve them, which prompts changes along the way, but it's not the type of a story where people wake up changed, and it's lovely because change in real-life is not easy and it comes with it's own list of small tasks...
- Support is support... it's lovely... it's the best thing ever...
Cons
- compared to the first half of the book, the second half is too fast... it's like the pace of the story shifts dramatically from slow to urgent...
I love this series so much... cannot wait to read the next one...
I am a bit late this party but I am here nonetheless...
Pros
- I love the them of disclosing a secret per book, as someone who is chronically scared of secret, I find that very appealing, the power of all the women is always something to look at and admire, and in a world where women think they are in a competition, it's lovely to read about women who would gang up to protect one another against the world.
- People don't change, they own up to their mistakes and solve them, which prompts changes along the way, but it's not the type of a story where people wake up changed, and it's lovely because change in real-life is not easy and it comes with it's own list of small tasks...
- Support is support... it's lovely... it's the best thing ever...
Cons
- compared to the first half of the book, the second half is too fast... it's like the pace of the story shifts dramatically from slow to urgent...
I love this series so much... cannot wait to read the next one...
reader_cheryl's review
4.0
Nora Pennington, owner of Miracle Books, and her co-worker and friend Sheldon Vega have just finished setting up a new display in the front window. Pizza is on the menu for supper and Nora is ready to eat. But Sheldon has discovered some damaged books.
On closer inspection, Nora realizes someone has seriously damaged every copy of The Scarlet Letter that is in the shop. The first name of the main character, Hester, is obliterated, but the last name, Prynne, is intact. Is it a coded message for Nora’s friend, Hester?
Then a body turns up. It’s a male, not local, and no one knows who he is. In his pocket is a copy of an old book. Miss Delphinium was published in 1918. It’s an obscure book; Nora has never heard of the author. The book itself is in bad shape. Neither the title or the book’s author, Elmer Freeman, give any hint to the dead man’s identity. A second book, Miss Daffodil, written by the same author and obviously part of a series that included Miss Delphinium is left in Hester’s bakery. Research about the author reveals more books in the series, none of them particularly valuable and none of them well-known. Nora’s research leads to more questions and few answers. Sheriff McCabe is stumped as well. Who is leaving the books? What message are they supposed to send?
Will more bodies turn up before the mystery is solved?
Thoughts on The Vanishing Type
I’ve read all the books in this series, and The Vanishing Type is by far the strongest book of the series. Question after question leads a reader deeper into several simultaneous mysteries. The characters are solid, three-dimensional fictional people that have formed deep and solid friendships over the series.
Copy provided by #Netgalley
#BetweentheChaptersbookclub
On closer inspection, Nora realizes someone has seriously damaged every copy of The Scarlet Letter that is in the shop. The first name of the main character, Hester, is obliterated, but the last name, Prynne, is intact. Is it a coded message for Nora’s friend, Hester?
Then a body turns up. It’s a male, not local, and no one knows who he is. In his pocket is a copy of an old book. Miss Delphinium was published in 1918. It’s an obscure book; Nora has never heard of the author. The book itself is in bad shape. Neither the title or the book’s author, Elmer Freeman, give any hint to the dead man’s identity. A second book, Miss Daffodil, written by the same author and obviously part of a series that included Miss Delphinium is left in Hester’s bakery. Research about the author reveals more books in the series, none of them particularly valuable and none of them well-known. Nora’s research leads to more questions and few answers. Sheriff McCabe is stumped as well. Who is leaving the books? What message are they supposed to send?
Will more bodies turn up before the mystery is solved?
Thoughts on The Vanishing Type
I’ve read all the books in this series, and The Vanishing Type is by far the strongest book of the series. Question after question leads a reader deeper into several simultaneous mysteries. The characters are solid, three-dimensional fictional people that have formed deep and solid friendships over the series.
Copy provided by #Netgalley
#BetweentheChaptersbookclub
lilmisssouthernyn's review
5.0
Another wonderful book in my favourite series! This one had a lot of moving parts to keep track of, but it may have been more intense for me to follow because I can only read once my baby is down for bed
iolanthesteas's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
anntharai's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Abandonment, Car accident, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, and Stalking